"Patrick was the backbone of the men's team this year and will only continue to improve throughout his career," said second-year Head Coach Logan Davis. "It's rewarding as a coach to see our top runner also be nominated for this academic honor."

The all-district teams are divided into eight districts and are separated by NCAA Divisions I, II, III and College Division—including NAIA, two-year and independent institutions. To be recognized, the scholar-athlete must have at least a 3.3 cumulative grade point average and serve as a key contributor to the team.

Gonzalez was selected from District One, which is comprised of colleges and universities from 16 different states ranging from Maine to North Carolina. He will also be considered for the Capital One Academic All-American Team to be announced the end of June.

Gonzalez, who returned from a two-year mission in Argentina for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Jan. 2012, had a standout sophomore year at Southern Virginia highlighted by a third-place finish overall on Nov. 9, 2012, in the 26-team, 182-runner USCAA Men's Cross Country National Championship 8K-race garnering him All-American First Team honors.